All trainees from both courses spend a minimum of 18 weeks on school experience in at least 2 of the consortium’s schools; in phase 1 trainees spend 5 weeks in a paired placement in school; this enables trainees to learn and observe with each other, to plan together and to deliver lesson jointly and individually; in phase 2 trainees are placed in another consortium school for 6 weeks; in phase 3 trainees usually stay in the same school as in phase 2 for 7 weeks where they are expected to meet the standards for qualified teacher status; by the end of phase 3 trainees have assumed full responsibility for the teaching and managing their class, and have had the opportunity to assess, level and record their children’s work.